Heel and toe lasting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A shoe lasting machine having a support on which the toe of the last may be placed and held and instrumentalities at the toe for operating on an upper and insole assembled on the last, said instrumentalities comprising adjustably mounted pincers adapted to grip the lasting margin at the tip, along the sides and at the waist and to pull it taut about the toe and forwardly with reference to the heel, and wipers for wiping the lasting margin inwardly against the insole.

United States Patent [721 Inventors Herbert K. Klantke bemberg, Germany; Henry Von Den Benken, West Roxbury, Mum; Robert I. Dunlap, Metlwny, Mass. 882,033 Dec. 4, 1969 Division ofSer. No. 730.081. May 17. 19681 Pat. No. 3,523,317. [45] Patented Aug. 10, I971 [731 Assignees E. G. Henkel Mlseliinenlabrik Neu-lsenburg, Germany; Coupe Industries, Inc. Waltlmn, Mass.

211 Appl. No. 22 Filed [$4] HEEL AND TOE LASTING APPARATUS 22 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

[52] 12/10.! [51] lllt.Cl ..A43d2l/00 il/MST [S0] I-ieldolSearch 12/10.l, 10.5, 14.5

[56] Relereuces Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,251,081 5/1966 Springer 12/10.1 3,399,411 9/1968 Fisk 12/ 10.1 3,478,379 11/1969 Harriman et a1 12/10.l

Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Attorney-G. Eugene Dacey ABSTRACT: A shoe lasting machine having a support on which the toe of the last may be placed and held and instrumentalities at the toe for operating on an upper and insole assembled on the last, said instrumentalities comprising adjustably mounted pincers adapted to grip the lasting margin at the tip, along the sides and at the waist and to pull it taut about the toe and forwardly with reference to the heel, and wipers for wiping the lasting margin inwardly against the insole.

TOE MIST/N6 M/SZ H551 END FOFMl/WS- //v Sr #512 MST/N6 //V57.'

Patented Aug. 10, 1971 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I di Patented Aug. 10, 1971 9 Sheets-Sheet A Patented Aug. 10, 1971 9 Sheets-$heet 5 1 I I I I I |l| H U I L IL.

MI I nif l u w 1.3V l

Patented Aug. 10, 1971 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 m a" E HEEL AND TOE LASTING APPARATUS This application is a division of our copending application Ser. No. 730,081, filed May l7, I968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,523,3l7.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are innumerable lasting machines available and the common purpose of each is to obtain the best possible fittings of the upper to the last with the least amount of wrinkling and especially to enable performing lasting operations on all kinds of shoes with equally good results whether men's, womens or children's, flat or deep shank and right or left. In our copending application Ser. No. 730,08l are shown in combination heel and toe lasting instrumentalities and relates specifically to the toe lasting instrumentalities which are especially designed to conform the upper to the last at the tip along the sides and at the waist and to enable maintaining substantially the same degree of control for shoes of all kinds whether the available lasting margin is full or short.

SUMMARY As herein illustrated, the machine has heel and toe supports upon which a last mounting an upper and insole assembly is adapted to be mounted for lasting of the heel end and forepart of the upper to the insole and lasting instrumentalities at the heel end and toe. The means for lasting the forepart comprises a pincer at the tip, pincers at the forepart and pincers at the waist, means mounting all the pincers for movement in unison perpendicular to the bottom of the last, means mounting the pincers at the tip and forepart for movement forwardly parallel to the bottom of the last relative to the pincers at the waist which are fixed relative to the last, means mounting the pincers for movement perpendicular to the bottom of the last independently of each other, means mounting the pincer at the tip for movement about an axis transverse to the median line of the last, and means mounting the pincers at the forepart and waist for movement along lines paralleling the sides of the last and for rotation about axes perpendicular to the bottom of the last, and means mounting the pincers at the sides and waist for movement toward and from the sides the last in a plane parallel thereto.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l diagrammatically illustrates the relation of the heel and toe lasting instrumentalities relative to each other as viewed from the position of the operator standing at the front of the machine in a position to effect its operation;

FIG. 2 is an elevation, to much larger scale, of that part of the heel end wiper support which provides for movement of the plane of the wipers about a horizontal axis transverse to the longitudinal median line of the last and for movement of the wipers forwardly and rearwardly parallel to the median line of the last;

FIG. 3 is a view taken transversely of FIG. 2, in the direction of the arrows a-a;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation corresponding to FIG. 2, including the means mounting the wipers for angular movement about a horizontal axis transverse to the median line of the last, for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the bottom of the last, for movement perpendicularly with respect to the bottom of the last and for arcuate movement in a plane transverse to the median line of the last;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of that portion of FIG. 4 above the line h b in greater detail,

FIG, 6 is a plan view ofthe portion in FIG. 4 above the line h-b below the wipers;

FIG. 7 is a plan view as seen from the top of the machine showing the wipers and the heel-forming means;

FIG. 8 is an elevation at one side of the instrumentalities for operating on the toe,

FIG 9 is a plan view of the instrumentalities for operating on the toe;

FIG. I0 is a plan view, to much larger scale, taken on the line 10-10 ofFlG. 8;

FIG. II is an elevation, to much larger scale, of the pincer at the tip of the shoe shown partly in section;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the wiper and wiper operating mechanism and FIG. I3 is an elevation, partly in section, of one of the pincers at the forepart of the last.

The machine herein illustrated is designed to operate on shoes in the process of manufacture to tension the shoe upper on a last, pull it tight over the shoulder at the bottom and about the toe and heel ends and fold the lasting margin in wardly over the bottom into engagement with the bottom of an insole resting on the bottom of the last for attachment thereto, for example, by means of adhesive applied to the lasting margin and/or the insole prior to assembly of the upper and insole on the last, or by means of a brush or equivalent swab or spray gun to the parts after assembly and just before subjecting the assembly to the lasting operation.

The lasting operation is accomplished by supporting the last upon which the upper assembly is mounted on a support common to instrumentalities for operating, respectively, on the heel end and toe end and since the lasting operation is carried out by first lasting the heel end and thereafter lasting the toe end, the instrumentalities for effecting heel lasting will be described first followed by a description of the toe lasting instrumentalities. For convenience the lasting instrumentalities are supported in a rearwardly inclined position with the heel lasting instrumentality below the toe lasting instrumentality, the general outline of which are shown on a supporting base in FIG. I, where the base is hollow and houses the mechanical, hydraulic and electrical appurtenances required for operating the instrumentalitics.

HEEL LASTING INSTRUMENTALITIES The heel lasting instrumentalities (FIGS. 2 to 7) comprise a pair of pivotally connected, flat, wiper plates 10-10 (FIG. 7) supported on a wiper head I2 for movement therewith forwardly and rearwardly relative to the back line of the last upon which the upper assembly is mounted by means of a carriage 14 (FIG. 2); for adjustment of the plane of action of the wipers about a horizontal axis transverse to the longitudinal median line of the last by a cradle I6 (FIG. 2); for movement in a horizontal plane transverse to the longitudinal median line of the last by a cross-slide 18(FIG. 5); for further adjustment of the plane of action of the wipers about a horizontal axis trans verse to the longitudinal median line of the last by a rocker 20 (FIG. 5 for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the wipers by a shaft 22 (FIG. 5); for arcuate adjustment of the plane of the wipers about an axis parallel to the longitudinal median line of the last by said shaft 22 (FIG. 5); for movement perpendicularly relative to the bottom of the last by said shaft 22 (FIG. 5); and for compound movement on the wiper head 12 for closing and opening by a wiper carrier plate 26 forming the bottom plate of the head (FIG. '7). The heel lasting instrumentalities also include means for forming the heel end of the to the last at the back line and along the sides adjacent thereto in the form of pivotally connected molds 28-28 (FIG. 7) supported by the wiper head 12 for movement therewith into engagement with the back line of the upper on the last and for closing upon the sides of the last,the molds being afforded the same adjustment as the wipers,

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the machine frame supports longitudinally spaced pairs of transversely spaced angle members 30, 32 provided at their lower ends with flanges 34, 36 by means of which they are bolted or otherwise secured to the frame. The angle members 30, 32 provide transversely spaced, parallel flanges 38, 40 (FIG, 3) to which are bolted bearing plates 42 containing transversely aligned arcuatc hearing slots 44. The cradle 16 upon which the carriage I4 is mounted and which provides for quick approximate adjustment of the carriage about a horizontal axis transverse to the last is mounted between the bearing plates 42. The cradle 16 has rectangularly arranged, spaced parallel sidewalls 46 (FIG. 3) rigidly joined by vertically spaced top and bottom walls 48 and S0. The top wall extends rearwardly beyond the rear extremity of the bottom wall (FIGS. 2 and 4) an contains a longitudinally extending, shallow recess 52 (FIG 3) along the opposite sides of which there are spaced parallel, horizontal shoulders 54. The carriage I4 has transversely spaced, parallel edges 56 adapted to rest on the shoul ders 54 and these are slidably held in place by gibs 58 bolted to the cradle with portions overlapping the edges 56. Trun nions 60, two mounted to the outer side of each sidewall 46 (FIG. 2), by engagement with the arcuate bearing slots 44, support the cradle I4 for the adjustment referred to above. Adjustment is provided for by a hand wheel 62 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) fixed to the upper end of a shaft 64 supported in spaced parallel relation to the outer side of the bearing plate 42 at the right side (FIG. 3) by upper and lower bracket members 66 bolted to the bearing plate. A worm gear 68 is secured to the shaft 64 near its lower end and meshes with a worm wheel 70 fixed to the outwardly projecting portion of horizontal, trans versely disposed shaft 72 journaled at its left end, as shown in FIG. 3, in the bearing plate 42 at that side and at its right end in the bearing plate 42 at the right side and in a U-shaped bearing bracket 74 bolted to the outer side of the bearing plate 42 at that side. A spool or its equivalent 76 (FIG. 3) is fixed to the shaft 72 substantially midway between the sidewalls 46 and one end of a cable 78 (FIG. 2) is attached to it so that the cable may be wound onto the spool or unwound therefrom. The outer end of the cable is secured to a bracket plate 80 which is bolted to the forward end of the cradle. By rotation of the shaft 72 and spool 76 in a direction to wrap the cable onto the spool, the cradle I6 can be tilted so that the top wall 48 and hence the carriage I4 mounted thereon tilt downwardly toward the left as shown in FIG. 2. Rotation of the shaft 72 and spool in the other direction allows the cable to unwind and the cradle to right itself due to the fact that it gravitates when not supported to the lower end of the slots 44. In order to hold the cradle in any selected position of adjustment. a clamp 82 is provided at the right side (FIGS. 2 and 3) comprising a shaft 84 fixed to the sidewall 46 and extending therefrom through the slot 44 in the bearing plate 42. A hub 86 fixed to the shaft 84 in spaced relation to the bearing plate 42, inclined earns 88 on the hub facing the bearing plate 42 and a handle 90 on the hub means ofwhich the cams may be rotated from a position occupying the slot 42 into engagement with the mar gins of the slot cooperate to bind the cradle against the hear ing plate 42.

The recessed portion 52 of the top wall 48 (FIG. 2) has Ion gitudinally spaced, parallel front and rear walls 92, 94, and the carriage I4 embodies a cylinder 96 (FIG. 3), the ends of which slidably receive and are supported by a fixed piston rod 98, the opposite ends of which are fixed in the front and rear walls 92, 94. A piston I is mounted on the piston rod 98 within the cylinder 96 and there are passages I02 axially of the piston rod, one from each end, and end connections I04 by means of which pressure fluid may be supplied to the interior of the cylinder at one end to advance the carriage I4 for wardly and at the other end to retract the carriage rearwardly relative to the last.

The cross-slide 18 (FIGS. 2 and is mounted on the carriage l4 and is slidably held thereon by spaced parallel, transversely extending shoulders I06 constrained laterally by spaced parallel rails I08 and held don by overlapping gibs I10, the rails and gibs being secured to the carriage 14 by bolts II2. Transverse movement of the cross-slide I8 is provided for by a Transverse of cylinder and piston assemblies H4 and I I6 (FIG. 6) mounted transversely of the cross-slide. The cylinder and piston assembly 114 comprises a fixed cylinder H40 and a movable piston and rod HM) and the cylinder and piston assembly II6 comprises a fixed cylinder H611 and a movable piston and rod II6h. The far end of the piston rod H4!) and the near end of the piston rod I161), as shown in FIG. 6, bear, respectively, against a pair of transversely spaced, parallel positioning rails II8 (FIG. 3) secured by bolts I20 to the top wall 48 of the cradle. Pressure fluid supplied alternately to the opposite ends of the cylinders 114a and H60 will by forcing the ends of the piston rods against the positioning rails II8 shift the cross-slide laterally in one direction or the other. Pressure fluid is supplied to the cylinders lI4u at 126 and to the cylinder II6a at I28. Limitation of the transverse movement of the cross-slide is provided by adjustable screw bolts I30 and I32 screwed into the opposite edges of the crossslide with their heads I34 and I36 held at a predetermined position with respect to the sides by lock nuts I38 and I40. Engagement of the heads I38 and I40 with the rail limits transverse movement of the crosshead in each direction.

The forward end of the cross-slide I8 is bifurcated, having spaced parallel, forwardly extending arms I42 (FIG. 5) at the forward extremity of which there are upright, right-angularly disposed posts I44 containing at their upper ends transversely aligned bearing holes 144a. The rocker 20 is flat plate I48 having a bifurcated forward end providing spaced parallel, forwardly extending arms I50, the distance between which is less than the distance between the arms 142, so as to extend forwardly between the arm I42 and have at their forward extremities upright, right-angularly disposed posts I52 which parallel the posts I44. The upper ends of the posts I52 contain bearing holes I52a. Bearing pins I54 mounted in the bearing hole I440 I520 rotatably support the rocker plate I48 on the cross-slide. The rear end of the rocker plate I48 contains a vertical hole midway between its longitudinal sides in which there is loosely journaled a screw 154, the lower end of which is threaded into a hole I56 in the cross-slide. By rotating the screw 154 the rocker plate 20 may be tilted to incline for wardly and downwardly from a horizontal position with a good degree of precision in positioning the wipers parallel to the bottom of a last which has an inclined surface.

A hearing lock I57 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is fastened to the rocker plate I48 by bolts I58 and supports the lower end of the shaft 22 to the upper end of which the bottom plate 26 of the wiper head I2 is fixed. The shaft 22 is mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the cross-slide, for arcuate movement about its lower end as a center in a transverse plane and for movement perpendicular to the bottom of the last. The lower end of the shaft is supported for the aforesaid transverse arcuate movement in a bearing sleeve I60 (FIG. 6) containing a hearing hole I62 which is conical in transverse section so that the shaft can rock from side to side with respect to its lower end in a transverse plane as well as rotate about its longitudinal axis. The lower end of the shaft 22 extends through the lower end of the bearing sleeve and rests upon a coiled spring I64 which is mounted on the lower end of the shaft 22 and is held under compression thereon between a collar I66 mounted on an axial reduced extension 22a by nuts I68 and the lower side of the bearing block I57. The shaft 22 is thus movable perpendicularly with respect to the bearing block I57 and is normally urged downwardly by the spring I64. At each side of the shaft 22 there is mounted a cylinder and piston assembly I70 (FIG. 6). Each assembly I70 comprises a cylinder I700 fixed at its lower end to the bearing block 157 and a piston and rod I70b, the upper end of which bears against the under side of the bottom plate 26 of the wiper head [2. Pressure supplied in equal amounts to the lower ends of the cylinders 1700 will raise the wiper head I2 perpendicu' larly with respect to the bearing block 157. When the pressure is vented the weight of the wiper head and the spring 164 lowers the wiper head until the pistons are seated at the bottoms of the cylinders. The cylinder and piston assemblies and a valve VI provide for rocking the wiper head I2 trans versely, that is, about an axis parallel to the longitudinal median line of the last so as to tilt the plane of the wipers in one direction or the other depending upon whether a right or left shoe is being lasted and also, to some extent, as determined by the make of the shoe, to approximate the inclination of the bottom. The valve V1 comprises a valve body 172, the upper end of which is profiled to correspond substantially to the bottom of the last at the heel end and an upwardly projecting actuating pin 174. The last with the upper and insole assembled thereon, as will appear hereinafter, is held with its bottom engaged with the upper end of the valve body 172 during the lasting operation. During heightwise adjustment of the last to purpose, namely into a clamped position for the lasting operation the actuating pin 174 will be contacted by one side pincers the last before the other depending upon its inclination and its depression acts to terminate supply of pressure fluid to the cylinder 1700 at the other side and to continue to supply fluid pressure to the cylinder 1700 at the one side until the wipers take up a position in a plane substantially parallel to the inclination of the bottom ofthe last.

The shaft 22 also provides for swinging the wiper head 12 about the longitudinal axis of the shaft from side to side to make adjustment for right and left shoes or for the camber of the last and such adjustment is provided for by a pair of cylinder and piston assemblies 176 (FIG. 6). Each assembly comprises a cylinder 176a and piston 176b. The cylinders 176a are mounted on the bearing block 156 in opposcdrelation to each other with their pistons 176!) protruding from their adjacent ends toward each other into engagement with a downwardly extending lugs 178 fastened to the underside of the wiper head by means of screw bolts 180. Supplying pressure to the outer end of one cylinder or the other to extend its rod will push against the lug 178 so as to swing the wiper head 12 about the axis of the shaft 22 thus providing for the aforesaid adjustment.

The wiper head 12 supports the wiper plates 10-10 and the heel end molds 28-68 and their actuating mechanisms (FIG. 5, 6 and 7). Referring to FIG. 5 the wiper head 12 has a bottom plate 26 and spaced parallel sidewalls 184(F1G. 7). A pin 186 is fixed in the bottom plate 26 (FIG. 7) and perpendicular thereto and the wipers 10-10 are pivotally mounted on the pin 186,-the articulated ends being overlapped in conventional fashion. Actuator plates 188-188 are secured to the wipers rearwardly of the pin 186 and these have at their undersides downwardly projecting rollers 190-190 which extend through curved slots 192-192 in the bottom plate 26. The wipers 10-10 are closed and opened by swinging movement of the ac tuator plates 188-188, brought about by movement of the rollers 190-190 along the slots 192-192. The movement of the actuator plates is a compound one in which the actuator plates move forwardly and swing inwardly toward each other. The swinging movement is achieved by means of the curved slots. The forward movement is afforded by a pair of links 192-192 parallel to the bottom plate, the forward ends of which are pivotally connected to the actuator plates by pins 194-194. The rear ends of the links are pivotally connected by pins 196-196 to the opposite ends ofa transversely disposed clamp bracket 198 (FIG. 7) secured to the rear end of sleeve 200 disposed midway between the links. The sleeve 200 is sup ported above the links 192-192 within a rectangular frame 202 mounted on the wiper head. The frame has along its opposite sides bottom flanges 204-204 containing bolt holes 206 (FIG. 7) by means of which it is fastened to the wiper head by bolts 207. At the forward end of the sleeve 200 there is a second transversely disposed clamp bracket 208. At opposite sides of the sleeve 200 and parallel thereto there are two cylinder and piston assemblies 210 comprising cylinders 210a, pistons 2l0b and rods 210:. The cylinders 210a are secured at their rear ends to the rear end of the frame 202. The rods 210textend forwardly from the cylinders 210a and are connected at their forward ends to the opposite ends of the second transverse clamp brackets 208. By supplying pressure to the rear sides of the pistons 210!) in the cylinders 2101: the links 192 are moved forwardly and in turn move the actuators 188 forwardly. The actuators guided by engagement of the rollers 190 in the curved slots 192 are swung outwardly relative to the pin 186 thereby closing the wiper plates 10-10 on the end of the heel. Retraction of the wiper plates 10-10 is effected by sup plying pressure to the opposite ends of the cylinders 21011.

As related above, the heel end lasting instrumentalities in clude heel and molds 28-28 and these and their operating mechanism are mounted on the frame 202. The heel end molds 28-28 are supported by a pair of arms 212-212 (FIGS. 5 and 6) pivotally connected at their rear ends by means of pins 214-214 to a crossbar 216. From their pivoted rear ends the arms 212-212 extend forwardly above and symmetrically with respect to the wipers and provide support along the opposite sides of the last at their inner sides for mold cushions 28-28 for applying yielding pressure to the sides of the upper about the hcel end of the last. The arms 212 are held spread apart preparatory to movement forwardly toward the heel end of the shoe by springs 218-218 connected at one end to the forward extremities of the arms 212-212 and at their other ends to angle brackets 220-220 bolted to the frame 202. The crossbar 216 is secured to the forward end of a rod 222 mounted in the sleeve 200. The rear end of the rod 222 extends from the rear end of the sleeve and through a retaining cap 224 bolted to the rear end of the frame and has threaded to its rear end a pair of nuts 226 which may be adjusted along the rod to limit forward movement of the rod by engagement with the exterior side of the cap 224. A coiled spring 228 mounted on the rod 22 between a collar 230 fixed to the rod and the inner side of the cap 224 yieldably urges the rod forwardly so as to yieldably seat the molds against the upper at the back line of the last. Forward movement of the rod is adjustably limited by engagement of a nut 227 threaded onto it with the rear end of the sleeve. The spring holds the molds yieldably engaged with the heel at the back line and at this point it is necessary to swing the molds toward the sides of the heel to apply pressure to the upper along the sides. To this end a pair of cylinder and piston assemblies 230 are mounted on the frame 202 outwardly of and parallel to the cylinder and piston assemblies 230. Each cylinder and piston assembly comprises a cylinder 230a and a piston 2306 The cylinders 2300 are fixed to the frame 202 and have at their'rear ends connections 232 to which pressure fluid may be supplied to the rear sides of the pistons 230!) in the cylinders thereby to move the pistons forwardly. The pistons 230h have rods 2301 which extend through the forward ends of the cylinders through bearings on the frame 202. The forward ends of the rods 230a mount rollers 234. Cams 236 are secured to the arms 212. each of which has a forwardly and outwardly diverging cam surface 238 disposed in the path of forward movement of a piston rod 230e, so that as the rollers 234 advance into engagement therewith they will displace the arms 212 inwardly toward each other thus engaging the mold cushions with the sides of the upper at the heel. Coiled springs 240-240 mounted on the rods 230c-230c with their forward ends abutting the frame and their rear ends abutting the pistons 23011-230!) operate when the pressure fluid is vented from the rear side of the pistons to return the pistons to the rear ends of the cylinders and hence to retract the rollers 234-234 thereby allowing the springs 218-218 to swing the arms 212-212 away from each other. The springs 218 are stronger than the spring 228.

A clamping frame 242 (FIGS. 5 and 7) having vertically spaced, parallel top and bottom crossbars 242a. 2421) and transversely spaced, parallel connecting legs 2420 is mounted at the forward end of the frame 202 for vertical movement thereon relative to the last support 172 between transversely spaced plates 244 bolted together with the angle pieces 220 to the frame. The upper crossbar 242a overlies the last support 172 and when brought downwardly into engagement with the top of a last resting on the support presses the bottom of the last against the last support so as to clamp it for the lasting operation. A cylinder and piston assembly 246 (FIG. 5) is mounted on the bearing block 157 below the last support and above the lower crossbar 242)) with its cylinder 2461: fixed to the bearing block and with its piston 246i: projecting downwardly therefrom. A spring 248 (FIG. 5) is interposed between the piston 246th and the lov er crossbar 2421) of the clamping frame and operates when the piston is moved downwardly yieldably to clamp the upper crossbar 242a against the top of the last.

Control is achieved by means ofa feeler 250 (FIGS 4, S and 7) mounted to move forwardly with the heel end molding means The feelcr has a finger 252 (FIG. which projects downwardly inside the heel mold at the back line front a sup porting bar 254 for engagement with the upper at the back line when the heel molds are moved toward the last The bar 254 is slideably mounted in a guide 256 bolted to a crossbar on the frame and has at its rear end an inclined cam shoulder 258 A valve V2 is mounted by means of an angle bracket 255 on the guide 256 near the rear end of the bar 254 with its actuating pin 270 projecting downwardly into engagement with a lever arm 272 pivotally mounted at its rear end to the valve. The forward end of the lever arm 272 is situated directly in the path of the rear end of the bar 254 and hence when the bar is stopped by engagement of the finger 252 with the back of the last and the forms continue to move forwardly. the forward end ofthe lever arm 272 rides up on the cam shoulder 258 and closes the valve V2 thus shutting off the pressure fluid to the cylinder 96 which stops the forward movement of the carriage 14. The valve V2 at the same time controls the input pressure to the cylinders "00, supplying pressure thereto so that they raise the wiper head and hence the wipers and by means of the valve V I, referred to above, adjusts the transverse inclination of the wipers about the longitudinal median line of the last support to dispose them in as nearly parallel relation to the bottom of the last as possible The upward movement of the wipers and angular adjustment about the longitudinal median line of the last comes to a stop when the valve pin 174 of the valve V] is completely depressed. Depression of the pine 174 of the valve VI also supplies pressure to the cylinder 246a in a direction to force the piston 246!) downwardly thereby bringing the upper crossbar 242a into clamping engagement with the top of the last to thereby clamp the bottom of the last against the upper end of the valve VI in a properly oriented position for the lasting operation. The valve VI in turn vents pressure at the forward side of the pistons 210!) which permits the rod 222 to be moved forwardly by means of the spring 228 and to carry with it the links 192 which advance the actuators I88 and hence the wipers 10-10 linearly toward the back line of the heelv Closing of the wipers on the end is effected by sup plying pressure to the rear sides of the pistons 21017. The heel end molds 28 are close just before the wipers by supplying pressure to the rear sides of the pistons 23011 to advance the rollers 234 into engagement with the inclined shouldc rs 238 of the cams 236 Following operation of the heeled forms and wipers added pressure is supplied to the upper end of the cylinder 2460 to apply added downward pressure to the top crossbar 2420 to press the bottom of the last against the in wardly closed wipers thereby to set the wiped-in margin.

The instrumentalities for operating on the heel end of the shoe are operated as follows: First, the cross-slide 18 is moved transversely with respect to the last support 172 to provide for lasting of right or left shoes and if necessary to obtain further adjustment for this purpose by swinging the wiper head 12 about the axis of the shaft 22 by supplying pressure to the ap propriate one of the cylinder and piston assemblies I76 Pres sure is now supplied to the cylinder and piston assembly 96 to advance the carriage 14 toward the last. Forward movement is brought to a stop as soon as the feeler 252 butts against the last by actuation of the valve V2. Actuation of the valve V2 supplies pressure to the cylinder and piston assemblies 170 which raise the wiper head and at the same time tilt the wiper head and hence the wipers to the slope of the last bottom by reason ofthe valve VI. the two cylinder and piston assemblies 179 ceasing to function as soon as the valve VI is completely closed. (losing the valve V1 releases pressure to the piston and cylinder assembly 246 so its to push the piston rod 246'; downwardly against the crosshead 24% and clamp the cross bar 242a against the top of the last At the same time, the

valve V1 vents pressure from the cylinder and piston assembly 210 at the forward side of the piston 2100 thereby permitting the spring 228 to press the heel end mold 28-28 against the back line of the last Following this pressure is supplied to the piston and cylinder assemblies 230 to close the heel end molds on the sides of the last at the heel end and pressure is supplied to the rear sides of the pistons in the cylinder and piston assemblies 210 so as to close the wipers over the bottom and hence to wipe the lasting margin in against the insole Finally additional pressure is supplied to the cylinder and piston assembly 246 to set the bottom of the last firmly against the full closed wipers. Should adjustment of the inclination of the wipers about axes transverse to the median line of the last he required, coarse adjustment is obtained by manual rotation of the hand wheel 62 and precision adjustment by rotation of the screw bolt I54.

TOE LASTING INSTRU M ENTALITIES Referring to FIGS. 8 to I3, the forepart support for the bottom of the last is a triangular plate 300 (FIG. 9) at the apices of which are upwardly projecting lugs 302 (FIGS 8 and II) of relatively small area for engagement with the bottom of the last inwardly of the margin a sufficient amount to permit the wipers 304 (FIG. 9) which are supported in a horizontal position for compound movement forwardly toward the tip of the shoe to close on the upper at the sides of the toe. Preparatory to wiping the lasting margin, the upper must be pulled taut on the last, desirably forwardly relative to the heel end of the last which as related above, has already been lasted; downwardly relative to the bottom; and desirably transversely to obtain equalization of the lasting stresses and alignment of the toe and heel ends with the longitudinal median line of the last. This is accomplished herein by a plurality of pincer adapted to grip the lasting margin and to pull the upper downwardly rela tive to the downwardly facing bottom of the last to stretch the upper across the top of the last. Seven such pincers (FIG 9) are employed for this purpose. namely a pincer 306 at the toe for gripping the tip end of the upper and three pairs of pincers 308, 310 and 312 arranged symmetrically along the opposite sides of the last support about the toe for gripping the margin along the forcpart and waist. 'l'he pincer 306 at the tip and the pincers 308, 310 at the forepart are supported on a platen 314 (FIG. ll). 'I'he pincers 312 at the waist are supported on a platen 316. The platens 314 and 316 are supported by a carrier plate 318 bolted to the upper end of posts 320. The posts extend through a plate 321 and are secured at their lower end to an elevator plate 322 mounted on the upper end of a ram 324 the latter being mounted for vertical movement in a cylinder 326i Movement of the ram will effect movement of all of the pincers heightwise in unison with respect to the last support 300 which is supported on the machine frame, a portion of which is shown at 328 (FIG. 8).

The platen 314 (FIGS, 8 and I0) is attached to the carrier 318 by bolts fixed to its underside which extend through elongate slots in the carrier plate 318. so that the platen 314 can be moved longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal median line of the last and relative to the platen 316 which is fixed to the carrier plate. A pair of cylinder and piston assemblies 330 (FIG. [0) are mounted on the fixed platen 316 so as to enable moving the movable platen 314 forwardly and rcarwardly relative to the fixed platen 316. The cylinder and piston assembly are secured to the fixed platen 316 in spaced parallel relation and symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line and each comprises a cylinder 330a and a piston rod 330); extending therefrom to the movable platen 314. The ends of the piston rods are connected to the platen 314 so that by supplying pressure to the cylinders the platen 314 may be moved relative to the platen 316 toward and from the wipers 304.

The movable platen 314 is also movable perpendicularly with respect to the carrier plate 318 and so the heads at the distal ends of the piston rods 330!) are engaged within vertically disposed slots provided on the platen 314. Vertical movement of the movable platen is effected by a vertically disposed screw 314a and nuts 314b and 3140 (FIG. 8), one for effecting movement upwardly and the other for effecting movement downwardly.

The pincer 306 at the tip or forward end of the last support (FIG. 11) is supported on the platen 314 for angular adjustment about a horizontal axis transverse to the median line of the last support and for radial movement about the aforesaid horizontal axis by a pedestal 332 bolted at its lower end to the platen 314. A rocker 334 is mounted on the pedestal on trans versely spaced, parallel, arcuate guides 336 secured to the pedestal with their concave and convex edges 3380, 338!) fac ing the last support. To facilitate movement of the rocker 334 on the guides pairs of rollers 340 are mounted on the rocker for rolling engagement with the concave and convex edges. The rocker is manually adjusted to obtain the desired inclination of the pincer by a hand wheel 342 (FIG. 8) which is operably connected thereto by means of a shaft 344 mounted on the pedestal to which the hand wheel is fastened and by means of which the shaft may be rotated. A beveled gear 346 fixed to the shaft 344 and a meshing beveled gear 348 fixed to a second shaft 350 mounted on the pedestal in a bearing 352 at right angles to the shaft 344 transmits rotation of the shaft 340 to the shaft 350. The shaft 350 has a threaded portion 352 thereon in mesh with an internally threaded bearing 354 formed in a part 356 bolted to the lower end of the rocker so that rotation of the screw imparts movement of the rocker along the curved guides. The rocker 334 has a flat track 358 on it on which there is mounted a carriage 360 provided with rollers 361 for engagement therewith. Movement of the car riage 360 is effected by a cylinder and piston assembly 364 mounted on the rocker below the carriage with the piston rod 364a parallel to the track and pivotally connected at its distal end to the carriage. By su plying pressure to the cylinder 3640 at one end the carriage may be advanced upwardly relative to the last support and to its other end to effect retraction of the carriage relative to the last support. The center ofcurvaturc of the arcuate guides is substantially at the tip of the last mounted on the last support so that the movement of the carriage is along a radius with respect to the last which has its center substantially at the tip of the last. The carriage 360 cmbodies a cylinder 366 closed at its lower end, a piston 368 slidably situated in the cylinder adjacent the lower end, and a rod 370 extending therefrom through a gland 3660 at the open upper end. A sleeve 372 is mounted in the open end of the cylinder above the gland having a part 374 which extends therefrom parallel to the axis of the rod at the side adjacent the last support. The aforesaid part 374 is shaped to constitute the lower fixed jaw 376 of the toe pincer. The movable jaw 378 is provided by a lever 380 pivotally supported by a pin 382 mounted on the sleeve 372 in spaced parallel relation to the lowerjaw 376. A portion 384 of the lever 380 extends into the open end of the cylinder and has on it an inclined cam shoulder 386. The piston rod 370 has at its distal end a roller 388 which is movable into engagement with the cam shoulder 386 to move the jaw 378 into gripping engagement with the jaw 376. Pressure supplied to the lower end of the cylinder will effect such clamping movement of the jaws and when the pressure is vented a spring 390 situated in the cylinder with its ends engaged, respectively, with the piston and the inner side of the gland 366a retracts the roller and hence releases the upper jaw. A spring 392 connected to the upper jaw provides for returning the upper jaw when released to its open position.

As thus constructed, it is possible to place the marginal edge of an upper at the tip of the shoe between the jaws 376, 3711, close them to grip the margin and then retract the pincer constituted by the jaws to pull the upper forwardly with respect to the heel end of the last on which the upper is supported and to impart a certain amount of tautncss and stress to the upper material, It is also possible to adjust the inclination of the pincer to obtain the best possible advantage and position in applying the lasting pull without creating wrinkles.

The pincers 308, 310 and 312 which are all alike (FIG. 13) are supported on the platens 314 and 316 at opposite sides of the last support, two pairs 308, 310 on the platen 314 and one pair 312 on the platen 316 for adjustment along arcuate grooves 394 in the platen 314 and 396 in the platen 316 (FIG. 10). The curvature of the grooves parallels the sides of the last and enables positioning the pincers substantially at right angles to the edge of the lasting margin which is to be engaged thereby for tensioning. Each pincer is also supported for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the platen on which it is mounted to permit adjustment relative to the margin for gripping the margin at a point which will prove ad vantageous from the standpoint of applying the pulling stress uniformly and without producing wrinkles.

Referring to FIG. 13, each pincer is provided with a mounting pedestal 398 which contains an axial passage into the lower end of which is fitted a post 400. The post 400 extends axially from the pedestal and is of such diameter as to pass freely through the curved slots 394, 396 referred to above. A spring clamp 404 is counted on the portion of the post extending through the slot against the underside of the platen and provides in conjunction with the lower end of the pedestal which abuts the upper side of the platen means for fixing the pedestal to the platen in an upright position. The post 400 closes the lower end of the axial passage and that portion thereof above the post constitutes a cylinder 406 in which there is mounted a piston 408. A piston rod 408a projects from the piston upwardly through a gland 410 screwed into the upper open end of the passage. Ports 412 at the lower and upper ends of the cylinder provide for supplying pressure fluid thereto to extend the piston rod 408a or to retract it. The piston rod has at its upper end an axial enlargement 414 providing a bearing and mounts a crosshead 416, the axis of which is perpendicular to the axis of the piston rod. A carriage 418 is mounted on the crosshead for movement longitudinally thereof between spaced parallel guides 420. At the right end of the carriage 418. as shown in FIG. 13, there is an enlargement 424 having portions extending above and below the car riage proper and boss 426 extending laterally from the upper portion toward the right as seen in FIG. 13. The boss 426 contains a vertical hole 428 and a jaw 430 having at its butt end an integral post 432 is fixed to the boss by engagement of the post with the hole. A nut 434 threaded onto the lower end of the post against the underside of the boss holds it in place. The jaw 430 has a pivot pin 436 journaled to it between spaced parallel bearings 438 and a second jaw 440 is pivotally mounted on the pin 436 between the bearings. The jaw 440 is provided with a lever 442 intermediate its tip and the pivot pin on which it is mounted which extends laterally therefrom over the upper end of the enlargement 224. The enlargement contains a vertically disposed passage 444 in which there is mounted a piston 446 and a rod 448, the latter extending from the piston upwardly through a fixed sleeve or gland 450 which closes the upper portion ofthe passage so that the portion of the passage between the bottom and the sleeve constitutes the cylinder. A port 452 is provided at the bottom of the cylinder through which pressure fluid may be supplied to force the piston up wardly and to cause the rod to raise the lever 442 and thus rotate the jaw 440 toward the jaw 430. A spring 454 mounted on the rod between the lower end of the gland 450 and the piston retracts the rod when the pressure is vented thereby allowing the jaw to open.

The carriage 418 is permitted to move in a direction toward the side of the last during the application of the pulling stresses to the margin so as to equalize the stresses at opposite sides and is yieldingly constrained so that when the jaws are opened the carriage will return to its initial position. To this end the head is provided with spaced parallel guides 420 between which the carriage is mounted for movement. At the rear end of the head there is a threaded hole 456 in which there is mounted a hollow screw 458 with its forward end engaged with the rear end of the carriage. The screw is provided with a head 460 so that it may be rotated and the forward end of the screw determines the initial or starting position of the carriage on the head. A spring 462 is supported in tension in the hollow screw with one end connected to the head end of the screw and the other end to the carriage.

For precision adjustment of the crosshead the gland 410 has an axial ex nsion 464 on which is rotatably mounted the lower end of a sleeve 466, the latter being supported on the upper end of the extension by engagement ofan internal annu lar shoulder 468 with the upper end. The sleeve 466 has an internal diameter large enough to receive the enlargement 414 at the upper end of the rod and a pin 470 mounted in aligned diametrically disposed holes in the sleeve and enlargement locking them to each other. A rod 472 is threaded through a threaded hole 474 in the sleeve and has at its outer end a knob 476 by means of which it may be turned to press the inner end of the rod against the extension with sufficient force to cause binding hence to prevent rotation of the sleeve relative to the extension. The rod also provides a convenient handle for rotating the sleeve about the extension.

Preparatory to a lasting operation a last with an upper and insole assembled thereon is placed bottom down on the last support 300, the marginal edges of the upper are spread laterally and inserted between the jaws of the several pincers and fluid pressure is permitted to enter the appropriate cylin' ders to close the jaws of the several pincers on the margin. Preferably the pincers at this stage are all situated above the plane of the wipers 304 and are adjusted along the sides of the last, about their vertical axes and in the case of the pincer at the toe adjusted for the proper inclination. Having clamped the margin by judiciously positioning the pincers along the margin the ram 324 is lowered and this draws all of the pincers away from the bottom of the last and below the level of the wipers. The last support 300 remains at a fixed level substantially parallel to the plane of the lower surfaces of the wipers throughout such heightwise movement of the pincers. Alter natively, of course, the wipers may be supported in a plane above the pincers and after gripping the lasting margin the last support 300 may be moved upwardly to the level of the top side of the wipers to impart the desired degree of tension. To impart stress longitudinally of the upper, that is, to pull the sides of the upper forwardly relative to the heel, pressure fluid is supplied to the piston and cylinder assemblies 330. Following this pressure may be supplied to one or more of the piston and cylinder assemblies 398 to increase or decrease the tension at the particular portion of the edge with which the pincer is engaged to equalize the stress and to eliminate wrinkles.

Having pulled the upper tautly to the last and made the necessary adjustments for equalization in tension and elimination of wrinkles the wiping operation is initiated which is made possible by the fact that the pincers in their final position are clear of the wipers and hence the latter may be moved inwardly above them toward the last and closed about the sides of the toe to wipe the lasting margin inwardly against the insole. The wipers which comprise a pair of pivotally mounted plates 304, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, are secured to the for ward edges of a pair of actuator plates 480 to the undersidcs of which are mounted rollers 482 engaged with diverging slots 484 formed in the bottom wall of a wiper head 486. A pair of transversely spaced links 488 are pivotally connected at their forward ends, one to each actuator plate. The rear ends of the links 488 are pivotally connected to a crossbar 490 and the latter is connected midway between its ends to the forward end of a rod 492. Forward movement of the rod 492 effects forward movement of the wipers and simultaneously closes them about the pivots connecting the forward ends of the links to the actuator plates. A cover plate 494 containing a semicir cle opening 496 above and symmetrically disposed with the underlying wipers holds the actuator plate and hence the wipers in a fixed horizontal plane during movement. The wiper head 486 rearwardly of the cover plate (FIG, 12) has mounted on it a cylinder and piston assembly 498 comprising a cylinder 498a, piston 498k and rod 498v. The rod 4981 extends forwardly from the piston 4980 through the forward end of the cylinder and is connected to the rear end ofthe rod 492. Pressure supplied to the rear end of the cylinder 4980 will advance the wipers and pressure supplied to the forward end of the cylinder will retract them.

The wiper head 486 is slidably supported at its lateral edges at the top of the machine frame, which, as shown, has spaced parallel, longitudinally extending sidewalls 500, beneath overlying gibs 502 bolted to the sidewalls of the frame.

Adjustment ofthe wiper head 486 forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the last support 300 is provided for by a screw 504 journaled in the machine frame parallel to the longitudinal center line of the shaft 492 with its forward end threaded into a threaded hole 506 entering the rear edge of the wiper head and extending forwardly therein. Rearward movement of the wiper head is limited by engagement of the forward end of the hole with the forward end of the screw. Forward movement is limited by contact of a lug 508 on the head with a lug 510 on the cover plate 494.

When lasting the forcpart the several pincers are engaged with the lasting margin and adjusted longitudinally of the last, about axes perpendicular to the bottom of the last, and transversely of the last to tension the upper as nearly uniformly as possible and then the wipers are brought into engagement with the tensioned upper to wipe it in against the bottom of the insole. The pincers along the sides are free to move toward the sides of the last as the wipers move inwardly thus giving up the margin for engagement with the insole without imparting too great a stress to the upper.

Toe and forepart lasting are accomplished with the foregoing pincers and wipers in generally the same fashion as the heel lasting by precoating the lasting margin with a pressuresensitive adhesive or by applying liquid adhesive to the margin of the insole and/or the lasting margin just before the wipers are moved into operation.

The heel end and toe lasting instrumentalities are combined on a common frame to operate successively on the heel end and then on the toe end of a shoe, the support for the heel end of the last and the support for the toe of the last being close enough to each other so that when the lasted upper is placed with its heel end on the heel end support the toe will simultaneously rest upon the forepart support thus making it possible to accomplish the entire lasting operation without remov ing the last front the machine. Should it be found desirable to do otherwise the toe supports and associated instrumentalities may be mounted at a greater spacing so that the operator may first place the heel end of the last on a heel support for heel lasting and after effecting heel lasting remove the last and place it on the forepart support for toe lasting.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a lasting machine, wipers supported for movement in a predetermined plane, means for supporting a last upon which is adapted to be assembled an upper and insole with its bottom at one side and parallel to the plane of movement of the wipers. pincers arranged about the means supporting the last for gripping the lasting margin at the tip and along the sides at the forepart, and means supporting the pincers for movement in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the last and in a direction longitudinally of the last parallel to the bottom thereof, said pincers at the sides of the last are each movable along a curved slot paralleling the sides of the last.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising pincers arranged adjacent the last support to engage the lasting margin at the waist, said pincers being movable with the pincers at the tip and forepart perpendicularly relative to the bottom of the last and being fixed longitudinally with respect to the last, and the tip and forepart pincers.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising pincers arranged adjacent the last support to engage the lasting margin at the waist, said pincers being movable in unison with the pin- 13 cers at the tip and forepart perpendicularly relative to the bottom of the last, rotatable about axes perpendicular to the bottom of the last, movable along arcuate lines parallel to the sides of the last, and movable toward and from the sides of the last in a plane parallel to the bottom but being longitudinally fixed with reference to the pincers at the tip and forepart.

4. In a lasting machine, wipers supported for movement in a predetermined plane, means for supporting a last upon which is assembled an upper and insole with its bottom at one side of and parallel to the plane of movement of the wipers, pincers arranged about the means for supporting the last for gripping the lasting margin at the tip, along the sides at the forepart and at the waist, supports upon which the pincers are mounted for movement of the pincers in unison following engagement with the lasting margin in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the last from a position at said one side of the plane of movement of the wipers to a position at the other side to pull the upper taut about the last preparatory to wiping, said supports being movable relative to each other in a horizontal plane parallel to the path of movement of the wipers, and means mounting the pincers at the tip and along the sides at the forepart on one of said supports and the pincers at the waist on the other of the supports,

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, whe rein said one support is movable and the other support is fixed.

6 Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the movable support is adjustable perpendicularly with respect to the fixed support.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said supports comprise fixed and movable plates upon which the pincers at the waist and the pincers at the tip and forepart are respectively mounted, and power-operable means on one of the plates operably connected to the other, operable to effect movement of the movable plate relative to the fixed plate in a horizontal plane parallel to the movement of the wipers,

8. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pincers on each of said plates are adjustable along curved line longitudinally of the last paralleling the sides of the last and are rotatable about axes perpendicular to the bottom of the last.

9. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the pincers at the forepart and waist are mounted on their respective plates for movement toward the sides ofthe last in a horizontal plane parallel to the bottom of the last, and there is power-operable means connected to each pincer for effecting its movement on its supporting plate independently of the other pincers in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the last.

It). In a lasting machine. wipers supported for movement in a predetermined plane, means supporting a last upon which is adapted to be assembled an upper and insole with its bottom at one side of and parallel to the plane of movement of the wipers, pincers arranged about the means for supporting the last for gripping the lasting margin along the sides, a support mounting the pincers for movement perpendicularly with respect to the bottom of the last, and means mounting each pincer on said support comprising a pedestal secured at its lower end to the support, a head at the upper end of the pedestal, a carriage mounted on the head for movement toward and form the sides of the last in a horizontal plane parallel to the bottom of the last, and means yieldably constraining the carriage, said pincers comprising fixed and movable jaws mounted on the carriage and means for closing the movable jaws against the fixed jaws.

I]. A machine according to claim 10, comprising a sleeve mounted on the pedestal for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the support, the upper end of the sleeve constituting a socket, and said head having a stem on it rotatably seated in the upper end of the sleeve, said sleeve containing a radial threaded opening in that portion containing the upper end of the pedestal and a threaded rod mounted in the threaded opening, said rod on the one hand being rotatable to bind the sleeve to the pedestal and on the other hand when retracted to enable rotating the sleeve about said pedestal 12. A machine according to claim l0, comprising a sleeve mounted on the pedestal for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the support, the upper end ofthe sleeve constituting the socket and said head having a stern on it rotatably seated in the upper end of the sleeve, aid sleeve containing a radially threaded opening in that portion containing the upper end of the pedestal, and a threaded rod mounted in the threaded opening, said rod on the one hand being rotatable to bind the sleeve to the pedestal and on the other hand when retracted to enable rotation of the sleeve about the pedestal.

13. A machine according to claim It), wherein the pedestal contains an axial passage, a portion of which constitutes a cylinder, the head has on it a cylindrical bearing rotatably and slidably engaged within the upper end of said passage, a rod extends from the bearing into the cylinder and a piston is fixed to that portion of the rod situated in the cylinder, said cylinder containing openings at its opposite ends through which fluid pressure may be supplied to effect movement of the piston upwardly and downwardly in the cylinder.

l4. Apparatus according to claim 10, herein said support contains transversely spaced, arcuate slots paralleling the sides of the last, and each pedestal has at its lower end a trun nion which extends through one of the slots, and a clamp on the trunnion set against the underside of the support, said clamp being releasable to permit moving the pedestal along the slot, and a handle on the clamp for effecting movement of the pedestal.

15. Apparatus according to claim it), comprising means for adjustably determining the initial position of the carriage on the head.

16. Apparatus according to claim 10, comprising a rod journaled on the head wipers, its axis disposed longitudinally, and with its forward end engaged with the outer end off the car riage for limiting movement of the carriage, said rod being threaded and rotatable to adjust the position of the carriage on the head, and a spring mounted in tension with its ends anchored respectively to the carriage and to the rod.

l7. In a lasting machine, wipers supported for movement in a predetermined plane, means supporting a last upon which is assembled an upper and insole with its bottom at one side and parallel to the plane of movement of the wipers, pincers arranged about the means for supporting the last for gripping the lasting margin at the tip and along the sides, a support mount ing the pincers for movement in unison perpendicularly with respect to the bottom of the last, said pincers being mounted on said support for movement perpendicular thereto and toward the sides of the last in a plane parallel to the bottom of the last, first power-operable means for effecting movement of said support, second power-operable means for effecting movement of the pincers independently of each other perpen' dicularly with respect to the support, and means yieldably constraining movement of each pincer toward and from the sides of the last in said plane parallel to the bottom of the last.

18. Apparatus according to claim 14, comprising plates mounted on the support, one behind the other, on a median line longitudinally of the last support, said one plate being fixed relative to the support and the other movable relative to the one plate longitudinally and perpendicularly with respect to said support, said one plate mounting the pincers at the waist and said other plate mounting the pincers at the tip and forepart, and power-operable means for effecting movement of the movable plate relative to the fixed plate in a direction toward and from the wipers.

l9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pincer at the tip is movable angularly in a perpendicular plane coinciding with the median line of the last about a center situated sub stantially at the tip of the last and is additionally movable along a radius lying in said plane having as its center said tip end ofthe last.

20. Apparatus according to claim I, wherein a carrier on the support mounts the pincer at the tip for angular movement in a perpendicular plane coinciding with the median line of the last about a horizontal transversely extending axis, a carriage til) and a cam on the movable jaw cooperable to close the movable jaw against the fixed jaw.

22. Apparatus according to claim I, comprising means movable to a position between the last support and the pincer at the forward end of the last support operable by engagement with the tip of the last to constrain movement of the last in the direction of the pull applied by said pincer. 

1. In a lasting machine, wipers supported for movement in a predetermined plane, means for supporting a last upon which is adapted to be assembled an upper and insole with its bottom at one side and parallel to the plane of movement of the wipers, pincers arranged about the means supporting the last for gripping the lasting margin at the tip and along the sides at the forepart, and means supporting the pincers for movement in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the last and in a direction longitudinally of the last parallel to the bottom thereof, said pincers at the sides of the last are each movable along a curved slot paralleling the sides of the last.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising pincers arranged adjacent the last support to engage the lasting margin at the waist, said pincers being movable with the pincers at the tip and forepart perpendicularly relative to the bottom of the last and being fixed longitudinally with respect to the last, and the tip and forepart pincers.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising pincers arranged adjacent the last support to engage the lasting margin at the waist, said pincers being movable in unison with the pincers at the tip and forepart perpendicularly relative to the bottom of the last, rotatable about axes perpendicular to the bottom of the last, movable along arcuate lines parallel to the sides of the last, and movable toward and from the sides of the last in a plane parallel to the bottom but being longitudinally fixed with reference to the pincers at the tip and forepart.
 4. In a lasting machine, wipers supported for movement in a predetermined plane, means for supporting a last upon which is assembled an upper and insole with its bottom at one side of and parallel to the plane of movement of the wipers, pincers arranged about the means for supporting the last for gripping the lasting margin at the tip, along the sides at the forepart and at the waist, supports upon which the pincers are mounted for movement of the pincers in unison following engagement with the lasting margin in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the last from a position at said one side of the plane of movement of the wipers to a position at the other side to pull the upper taut about the last preparatory to wiping, said supports being movable relative to each other in a horizontal plane parallel to the path of movement of the wipers, and means mounting the pincers at the tip and along the sides at the forepart on one of said supports and the pincers at the waist on the other of the supports.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said one support is movable and the other support is fixed.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the movable support is adjustable perpendicularly with respect to the fixed support.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said supports comprise fixed and movable plates upon which the pincers at the waist and the pincers at the tip and forepart are respectively mounted, and power-operable means on one of the plates operably connected to the other, operable to effect movement of the movable plate relative to the fixed plate in a horizontal plane parallel to the movement of the wipers.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pincers on each of said plates are adjustable along curved line longitudinally of the last paralleling the sides of the last and are rotatable about axes perpendicular to the bottom of the last.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pincers at the forepart and waist are mounted on their respective plates for movement toward the sides of the last in a horizontal plane parallel to the bottom of the last, and there is power-operable means connected to each pincer for effecting its movement on its supporting plate independently of the other pincers in a direction perpendicular to the bottom oF the last.
 10. In a lasting machine, wipers supported for movement in a predetermined plane, means supporting a last upon which is adapted to be assembled an upper and insole with its bottom at one side of and parallel to the plane of movement of the wipers, pincers arranged about the means for supporting the last for gripping the lasting margin along the sides, a support mounting the pincers for movement perpendicularly with respect to the bottom of the last, and means mounting each pincer on said support comprising a pedestal secured at its lower end to the support, a head at the upper end of the pedestal, a carriage mounted on the head for movement toward and form the sides of the last in a horizontal plane parallel to the bottom of the last, and means yieldably constraining the carriage, said pincers comprising fixed and movable jaws mounted on the carriage and means for closing the movable jaws against the fixed jaws.
 11. A machine according to claim 10, comprising a sleeve mounted on the pedestal for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the support, the upper end of the sleeve constituting a socket, and said head having a stem on it rotatably seated in the upper end of the sleeve, said sleeve containing a radial threaded opening in that portion containing the upper end of the pedestal and a threaded rod mounted in the threaded opening, said rod on the one hand being rotatable to bind the sleeve to the pedestal and on the other hand when retracted to enable rotating the sleeve about said pedestal.
 12. A machine according to claim 10, comprising a sleeve mounted on the pedestal for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the support, the upper end of the sleeve constituting the socket and said head having a stem on it rotatably seated in the upper end of the sleeve, aid sleeve containing a radially threaded opening in that portion containing the upper end of the pedestal, and a threaded rod mounted in the threaded opening, said rod on the one hand being rotatable to bind the sleeve to the pedestal and on the other hand when retracted to enable rotation of the sleeve about the pedestal.
 13. A machine according to claim 10, wherein the pedestal contains an axial passage, a portion of which constitutes a cylinder, the head has on it a cylindrical bearing rotatably and slidably engaged within the upper end of said passage, a rod extends from the bearing into the cylinder and a piston is fixed to that portion of the rod situated in the cylinder, said cylinder containing openings at its opposite ends through which fluid pressure may be supplied to effect movement of the piston upwardly and downwardly in the cylinder.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 10, herein said support contains transversely spaced, arcuate slots paralleling the sides of the last, and each pedestal has at its lower end a trunnion which extends through one of the slots, and a clamp on the trunnion set against the underside of the support, said clamp being releasable to permit moving the pedestal along the slot, and a handle on the clamp for effecting movement of the pedestal.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 10, comprising means for adjustably determining the initial position of the carriage on the head.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 10, comprising a rod journaled on the head with its axis disposed longitudinally, and with its forward end engaged with the outer end off the carriage for limiting movement of the carriage, said rod being threaded and rotatable to adjust the position of the carriage on the head, and a spring mounted in tension with its ends anchored respectively to the carriage and to the rod.
 17. In a lasting machine, wipers supported for movement in a predetermined plane, means supporting a last upon which is assembled an upper and insole with its bottom at one side and parallel to the plane of movement of the wipers, pincers arranged about the means for supporting the last for gripping the lasting margin at the tip and along the sides, a support mounting the pinCers for movement in unison perpendicularly with respect to the bottom of the last, said pincers being mounted on said support for movement perpendicular thereto and toward the sides of the last in a plane parallel to the bottom of the last, first power-operable means for effecting movement of said support, second power-operable means for effecting movement of the pincers independently of each other perpendicularly with respect to the support, and means yieldably constraining movement of each pincer toward and from the sides of the last in said plane parallel to the bottom of the last.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 14, comprising plates mounted on the support, one behind the other, on a median line longitudinally of the last support, said one plate being fixed relative to the support and the other movable relative to the one plate longitudinally and perpendicularly with respect to said support, said one plate mounting the pincers at the waist and said other plate mounting the pincers at the tip and forepart, and power-operable means for effecting movement of the movable plate relative to the fixed plate in a direction toward and from the wipers.
 19. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pincer at the tip is movable angularly in a perpendicular plane coinciding with the median line of the last about a center situated substantially at the tip of the last and is additionally movable along a radius lying in said plane having as its center said tip end of the last.
 20. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a carrier on the support mounts the pincer at the tip for angular movement in a perpendicular plane coinciding with the median line of the last about a horizontal transversely extending axis, a carriage supports the pincer on the carrier for movement thereron radially with respect to said axis, and there is power-operable means operably connected to the carriage for effecting its movement.
 21. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pincer has fixed and movable jaws, the fixed jaw being fixed to the carriage and the movable jaw being pivotally secured thereto, and power-operable means including a roller movable thereby, and a cam on the movable jaw cooperable to close the movable jaw against the fixed jaw.
 22. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means movable to a position between the last support and the pincer at the forward end of the last support operable by engagement with the tip of the last to constrain movement of the last in the direction of the pull applied by said pincer. 